Erdogan, Trump hold phone conversation on Khashoggi

By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

ANKARA 

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the U.S. President Donald Trump have held a phone conversation on slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Turkey's presidential press office said early Monday.

According to a statement by the presidential press office, Erdogan and Trump agreed on the Khashoggi case need to be cleared up with all aspects.

Khashoggi was last seen on Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia on Saturday claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.

On the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.

A joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case on Thursday after searching the residence of the consul general as well as the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

President Erdogan earlier on Sunday said that he will make a statement on the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi on Tuesday during his party's group meeting at the parliament.

The sources also said that two leaders' phone conversation included pastor Andrew Brunson, cooperation in fight against terrorism and the roadmap on Syria's Manbij.